Advantage of a small(ish) town… or so I thought

Saturday night, I found myself with zero plans. Despite the freezing temperature and gusty wind, I was restless. I wanted to do something, but wasn’t sure what. I hadn’t been to the theatre in EG in a long time, so I thought, why not? I looked up the movie times, decided to text a couple people to see if they were interested in going with me, and when they weren’t – 🙁 – I wrestled with an idea of a situation I’ve wrestled with before:

Is it “acceptable” to go to the movies…alone? (gasp)

After much deliberation and a thought that maybe this could be one more thing I check off my “before I check out list”, I decided to go. I changed the time and movie. Sarah Jessica Parker/Hugh Grant won. Romantic comedy never fails me. Besides, the EG theatre cannot be nearly as crowded as Colonie or Crossgates – and with this weather, who else would want to go out to the movies?

After arriving at the theatre, I looked through the Regal Cinema windows and saw it was pretty dead. Good setting for me to settle into a comfy seat, throw my feet up on the seat in front of me, and enjoy my Skittles and show. I arrived at 9:00 for a 9:30 movie, because I actually love love love the trivia and previews. The ticket man told me I had to wait until 9:15 to enter the theatre. OK, no big deal – I don’t mind awkwardly standing around an empty theatre, even if I had the urge to text and/or pretend I had a phone call like I was waiting for someone. When the time came to get a seat, I entered the theatre behind a couple. OK, not bad, one couple I could handle. (OK, what I really thought was “this poor guy, getting dragged into this chick flick, ha!) I took a seat at the third row to the back, on the end. I situated my water and Skittles. The theatre was so quiet and empty that I even dropped a Skittle and listened to it roll down past the lovely couple. I laughed to myself and wondered why I hadn’t done the whole solo-movie thing a long time ago. Piece of cake. Enter another couple, and another, and then another. I know, it’s “date night” – my mother’s voice rings in my ears – this is to be expected. This is where I started to think about whether or not it’d be less awkward for me to have gone to Colonie Center or Crossgates. It’s most likely easier to blend into a more crowded theatre. I don’t know how many people would’ve been at either location to see this particular movie, but maybe there’d have been more girlfriends going together, and not ooey-gooey lovebirds.

Movie starts…WARNING: If you are single, and decide to head to a movie on your own, please, I beg of you, do NOT go see a romantic comedy. I don’t care how horrible the acting, or how unrealistic the plot is – it WILL be like taking a bullet. In a moment of weakness, I texted a couple friends and admitted what I was doing. One friend laughed and another was so amazing as to assure me how strong I was, and how nuts it was that I was alone on a Saturday night. He was also sipping gin and tonics in NJ, but I agree with both friends. It’s funny and nuts.

I left before the credits started, so as to avoid being seen in the light. If I ever decide to give “solo cinema” another shot, it’ll be an action movie full of violence, profanity and special effects. However, I am glad there’s sooo many cute couples in EG. But seriously…get a room.

It’s nothing to cause embarrassment. I doubt anyone cares, and you’re just as much a paying customer as everyone else. True, I’d probably feel more comfortable at the EG Regal than in the Xgates Cineplex, but it seems more lame to be paralyzed by self-pity than to actually just head out solo.

It’s really not that unusual to go to the movies solo, though it may be more common in bigger cities. Many times when traveling I’ve gone to movies on my own, because there’s very little else to do on an evening alone in a strange town. Only once did I ever feel at all self-conscious, when I went to see a movie (“Kissing Jessica Stein”) that I didn’t realize would attract an almost entirely lesbian audience, and I was literally the only man in the theater, let alone the only solo person.

Gotta say I love to go to the movies by myself. I am able to watch the mvie in peace. No Questions, nobody wondering outloud or what ever else my family comes up with to take my attention from the screen. HAHAHAHA

good for you amanda. I used to love to go to the movies by myself.just haven’t been able to get out and do it lately. Would you feel less awkward if you brought a blow up doll? you know, how people put them in the front seat so they can use the carpool lane 🙂

I went to see “The Notebook” alone, and back when I was single. It was awesome. I ate a whole bucket of extra butter popcorn on my own and cried like a baby at the end. It was especially nice because no one was around to judge me.

Welcome to my world. Wait until you attempt your first dining experience alone on a Saturday night. Talk about thoughts of suicide! However, you will get through it and if you’re anything like me, you will learn to enjoy it.

I’ve been flying solo now for about 3 years and if your friends are anything like mine (married and/or in a relationship), Saturday nights on the town alone will become second nature. I have many friends but when you’re not part of a couple, the social options are diminished because couples tend to do things with other couples. Next time, call me but you will have to share your Skittles.

I often go places alone, including the cinema and restaurants. I have never felt odd because of it, but when other people hear that I do this they usually respond by either saying “how sad,” or “I don’t know how you do it. I’d be WAY to self-conscious to eat by myself.” Funny how people sit on barstools alone and get sloshed without any such sentiment.

@15 – I used to travel a lot for my last job, and also always got “pity” comments like that for having to go out to dinner alone, spend an evening alone, etc. I used to feel pressured, like I HAD to have something with me (book, laptop) while eating in order not to seen as the weird girl eating alone.
I also have only done the solo movie thing in other cities, on those business trips, where I figured no one would recognize me going to see a movie alone. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it, though, and I feel a little silly now for even thinking that way in the past…I say good for you for going that night!

Sorry this has nothing to do with this blog but I wanted to share this with you and the other readers. These are some of the things going on this week at the East Greenbush Community Library : Wednesday January 6, 2010
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7:00 PM Zumba
Zumba is a hip-swinging, booty-shaking fun way to get a great workout that incorporates merengue, salsa, cha-cha, cumbia, calypso, and rock & roll, which will work your body and move your spirit. No previous dance experience is required. All levels are welcome. Please call the library to register for this free workshop.
________________________________________Friday January 8, 2010
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7:00 PM Family Movie Night – CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS!
Join us for a free showing of the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” Great comedy for the whole family. No registration required.
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Love going to the movies by myself. My husband (and children) don’t care for a romance or silly comedy. So I get to really enjoy the movie without an eye roll or hear “how much longer”. I can have a good cry without my husband saying “are you crying?”. I’ve done the restaurant lunch dinner by myself and don’t mind it. I might bring a book or newspaper or otherwise, just people watch.

#18 — The library has a very good RSS feed for its events, continuously updated and always giving enough advance notice that you can plan for the events. You can get it from the RSS button on the front page of the library’s website, http://www.eastgreenbushlibrary.org/

I have gone to the movies by myself once to see “the patriot” as I was tired of waiting for my friends to get their calendars to match mine. Screw it! I’ll show you and go by myself. I think its easier to go to a movie alone then eat alone as I am paranoid people must be looking at me and thinking “poor girl….” (insert the sad pathetic looks on their faces when they say that). My married sister told me once that its sad to see people eat alone and I instantly got on her case. I believe it is the more confident people that do it and can pull it off. Maybe she should try it sometime!

For movies, science fiction is usually a good bet if you’re going alone and don’t want to feel out of place since at least half of the sterotypical sci fi movie goers are going solo (or atleast not with a date). For eating out, Denny’s is a good place to go alone partly because they have a counter but also because not many people would subject a date to Denny’s food(except maybe a sci-fi buff who doesn’t really know all that much about dating). I won’t mention how many Star Trek and Star Wars movies I’ve seen alone.

As a fellow single gal in my twenties, I’ll admit I just recently embarked on a similar solo-movie-outing! Although I saw Precious at the Spectrum on a Sunday night, I can still appreciate your story and the humbling experience. My mom talked me in to it after much back and forth and will say that I’d definitely do it again. Dinner alone is a whole different story…and not recommended (especially not locally where you have the chance of bumping in to an ex on a date with his new gf)!!

Not a movie goer, but I eat out alone all the time. Doesn’t bother me in the least and have made many an owner, manager, servers as friends who’ll stop and visit. Although I’ve done it, I am NOT comfortable seated alone at a bar. Seems too cheesy like I’m there for a pick up (or will be thought so) and I am most definitely not.

I’ll admit that when I was young enough to care what people thought, going to the movies or eating alone seemed like being a social pariah, but as you get older it means less. If I’m bored & want to see a movie, it seems simpler just to go than to wait to arrange an “event”. I will say, Saturday night at a romantic comedy IS a little hard. My tastes are sometimes a bit pedestrian (read:shallow) compared to my friends, so if I want to catch that cheesy comedy instead of the intellectual documentary, I might have to go alone!